Chapter 13

Luka treaded back down the mountain path. Her platform shoes were covered in mud and she was soaked. Her T-shirt was far too thin and her jeans hadn't provided much sheath from the rain in the beginning. Each article hung heavy and thin, wearing her down. She shivered intensely and called out when she got back to where she'd left Len and Miku.

"They weren't at the top!" she called over the loud rain. More storm clouds were rolling in and the odds of finding Miku and Len grew slimmer by the minute.

"She wasn't on the hidden path either!" Kaito hollered running over to Luka. Teto and Mikuo joined shortly after.

"They weren't back on the main road," Teto added. She'd said it so quietly as if she'd been afraid to give her answer. Luka quickly switched to look at Mikuo. He frowned.

"I also didn't see any sign of them down the mountain. There also weren't any tracks suggesting they'd wandered into the forest." Luka bit her lip and turned away from the group.

She shook her head and stared up into the sky. Raindrops ran down her face like the tears she wouldn't allow herself to produce. She didn't know what happened. Couldn't understand. They weren't here. Never before had she yearned so much just to see Miku. To hear her voice and know she was all right. However like a ghost, she'd disappeared with Len and who knew where Rin was.

"What do we do if they aren't anywhere?" Teto commented, she sounded so afraid. Frankly everyone was afraid, including Luka herself. Difference was she chose not to show it. Desperately willed herself not to.

"Easy, we start looking for bodies," Kaito answered way too casually. He caught the glare Mikuo shot him for the sentence and shut his mouth.

"I'm sure they're okay, worst case scenario they're injured." Mikuo spoke softly. Luka wouldn't admit it but he knew she was in a fragile state. Why she was working so hard not to show her emotions, he didn't know. Luka had always been someone he'd never fully comprehended.

Maybe it was to keep up her image, but the situation didn't call for it. Hanging onto pride just so people didn't see you in your weakness, he deemed it cowardly. That kinda thing didn't matter when three people were missing.

Mikuo since young had always had sort of an ability to see through people. He'd always been able to tell someones motives and if they were a kind person or not. Luka had been the only one up until now that he hadn't been able to read; until Rin that was. She was a mystery.

Whenever he'd stared into Rin's eyes, he'd seen so many things. Too many things he couldn't understand. As if she was split. A fragile girl locked behind the eyes, mind and body of something else. What exactly he wasn't sure. But it was something...just something else. Anytime he even came close to figuring out anything he became afraid and didn't venture any deeper.

There was some kind of impenetrable wall that he mentally couldn't break. Unlike Luka who'd just simply didn't have any feelings or motives underneath. That or she'd locked herself away so deeply she'd forgotten who she really was.

Whatever it was he couldn't deny there was something...else there. Mikuo watched Luka hold her hands out infront of herself, studying them. The rain poured on her and droplets dripped off her face like tears.

"Miku..." Was all that left her mouth, wary in her voice. Mikuo stepped forward to stand directly infront of her. He glanced at Teto.

"Teto, you and Luka head back to the Megurine's condominium. Kaito and I will search some more. Make sure you call for help. They'll act faster if Luka is the one who issues the order." Luka shoved Mikuo.

"How do you expect me to just go? I'm the cause of all this! I can't go! Miku is...Len is...and even Rin is-who are you to order me aroun-"

"I need you to do this for me Luka!" Mikuo shouted. No man had ever dared raise their voice against her, but she didn't feel like hitting him. "Stay calm, we don't want anyone else to go missing."

"I am calm," Luka said, but vulnerability leaked through her answer. She would've covered her mouth but they'd already heard. Luka crossed her arms. She was shivering but she would stand tall. Even in such a scattered state she was strong, would prove she was strong.

Luka stared at Mikuo. His teal eyes locking with her pink ones. She noticed unlike herself he didn't look shaken or confused. In this situation he was the levelheaded one. While she was all over the place he knew what to do. It would be a lot safer to just follow his orders.

But she knew she could be capable of such calm too.

Mikuo set one of the backpacks he was carrying down and pulled out a coat of his. With a quick shake he placed it around Luka. But she glared, almost hardened.

"I don't need your coat Mikuo." The bite in her voice hadn't lost its harshness. She shoved the coat back into his hands.

"I suggest you drop the insistent pride act before you get yourself killed. Or worse, us all killed." Luka's eyes widened. She hadn't expected such harshness to ever be attached to anything Mikuo would ever say. He was usually the happy go lucky fool. The one that chatted happily among others. Obliviously happy.

She wanted to yell or protest but her words deserted her. "Mikuo..." He rested his hands on her shoulders.

"Don't worry, even if you don't like him Len is a responsible guy. He would never let something bad happen to Miku. He's that kinda person so try trusting him a little all right?"

Something was different about Mikuo right now. He seemed so mature, maybe it was his wet hair and the way his fringe draped messily over his forehead. Maybe it was his voice, so smooth and trusting.

Possibly the storm brought new lighting to his eyes. Ones that currently were burrowing into her soul. A place not even she had treaded in a decade. Whatever it was Mikuo suddenly had a profound attractiveness to him. So she trusted him, she would believe him and put some faith into Len.

He handed her his jacket and this time she slipped it on. She nodded and took Teto's hand. Carefully they made their way down the mountain. The whole time she walked Luka still worried. She'd put faith in Len but that didn't stop the fear in her mind.

She decided to trust him, meaning she'd have to sit and wait to see if she really would see Miku again...ever again.